Representatives at the Greater Vancouver Hotel Employers Association (GVHEA) believe their offer to approximately 1,600 employees is “one of the most generous offers in the hospitality industry.”
Union representatives are not so sure, however.
The GVHEA represents downtown Vancouver hotels such as the Four Seasons Vancouver, Hyatt Regency Vancouver, Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside Hotel and the Westin Bayshore.
The GVHEA’s offer includes a:
In addition, employees will receive a signing bonus if the agreement is ratified by December 15.
“We are making good progress at the bargaining table and, as we get closer to the December bonus deadline, we urge the union to stay the course,” said GVHEA spokesman Eric Harris.
Union representatives want an improved offer.
“Unlike [hotels in] other North American cities, these hotels benefited from the Olympics and have all been quite busy this year,” UNITE HERE Local 40 spokeswoman Michelle Travis told Business in Vancouver.
“Workers also want to ensure that they are able to access health benefits year-round for themselves and their families, which is not currently the case. They want to be able to retire with dignity and want the employers to address issues related to heavy workloads.”